The Benji Sūtra, Volume 1 (1)

Original Text: I heard the following from the World-Honored One: "Bhikkhus, you should know that with the Buddha-eye, I universally observe all karmic results in the world, all arising dependent on the mind. There is a class of sentient beings driven by their mind, who perform such actions and tread such paths. Upon the disintegration of the body and the end of life, as if discarding a heavy burden, they fall into the evil destinies and are born in hell. Why is this? Because those sentient beings possess a defiled mind. Due to this cause, upon the disintegration of the body and the end of life, they fall into the evil destinies and are born in hell."

Explanation: I heard the following teaching from the World-Honored One: Bhikkhus, you should know that with the Buddha-eye, I universally observe all karmic results in the world, all arising dependent on the mind. There is a class of sentient beings driven by their mind, who perform such actions and tread such paths. When their body perishes and life ends, it is like casting off a heavy burden; they fall into the three evil destinies and are born in hell. Why is this? Because those sentient beings possess a defiled mind. Due to this defiled mind, they create defiled karmic actions, thus upon the end of life, they fall into the three evil destinies and are born in hell.

The "mind" mentioned above refers to the seventh consciousness, the mental faculty (manas). Due to the defilement of manas, the arising mind creates only defiled karma. It is because of this defiled karma that they fall into the three evil destinies and hell upon death. Sentient beings are driven by manas to create karmic actions; manas is the driving force and master of bodily, verbal, and mental acts. If manas is pure, all is pure; if manas is defiled, all is defiled. Therefore, manas fully encompasses all ignorance and all afflictions. Cultivation must ultimately be applied to manas to eliminate defilements and attain purity. Consequently, regardless of what dharmas or what samadhi one attains, it must be realized by manas. If manas does not realize it, defilements remain forever defiled and can never become pure.

Original Text: I heard the following from the World-Honored One: "Bhikkhus, you should know that with the Buddha-eye, I universally observe all karmic results in the world, all arising dependent on the mind. There is a class of sentient beings driven by their mind, who perform such actions and tread such paths. Upon the disintegration of the body and the end of life, as if relinquishing a heavy burden, they ascend to the blissful destinies and are born in the heavens. Why is this? Because those sentient beings possess a pure mind. Due to this cause, upon the disintegration of the body and the end of life, they ascend to the blissful destinies and are born in the heavenly realms."

Explanation: I heard the following from the World-Honored One: Bhikkhus, you should know that with the Buddha-eye, I universally observe all karmic results in the world, all arising dependent on the mind. There is a class of sentient beings driven by their mind, who perform such actions and tread such paths. Upon the disintegration of the body and the end of life, as if relinquishing a heavy burden, they ascend to the various blissful destinies and are born in the heavens. Why is this? Because those sentient beings possess a pure mind. Due to this pure mind, upon the end of life, they ascend to the various blissful destinies and are born in the heavens.

Here, the "mind" still refers to manas. Manas is the sovereign consciousness, the master of all dharmas; how dharmas are created is determined and driven by manas. If manas is pure, the karmic actions created are pure, and pure karmic actions lead to the reception of pure blessed retribution. Therefore, manas can also fully encompass all pure wholesome dharmas, and through these pure wholesome dharmas, one accomplishes the Buddha Way. Thus, manas fully possesses all mental factors (caittas) — both wholesome and unwholesome mental factors are fully present within it. Unwholesome mental factors can be completely eradicated, and wholesome mental factors can all arise. If manas is unwholesome, all is unwholesome; if manas is wholesome, all is wholesome. Cultivation must ultimately be applied to manas; otherwise, it will be abandoned midway, previous efforts will be wasted, and wholesome dharmas will not be accomplished.